Free Fairy Lies by E. D. Baker

to drape an arm across Herbert. The unicorn leaned against her, wuffling softly. “What’th going on, Jak?”
    Jak shrugged. “Apparently the wolf goblins no longer feel they have to honor the pact they had with the cat-goblin clan.”
    “I’m not thurprithed,” said Lamia Lou. “Thingth are getting a little crazy around here. I’ve heard that the wolf goblinth and at leatht two other clanth are up to their old trickth again, terrorizing villageth and waylaying travelerth. Before you go anywhere, we thould find out whatth going on. Why don’t you thtay with Lamia Lynn while Herbert and I do a little invethtigating? We know thomeone who keepth track of all that kind of thtuff.”
    “I have to get going,” Jak said. “Tamisin needs me and I—”
    Lamia Lou patted his back, saying, “Don’t worry, we won’t be gone long.”
    “I don’t think I—” Jak began, but the unicorn and the lamia were already heading for another tunnel.
    “Would you like thomething to drink?” Lamia Lynn asked as she laid one of her bundles in a long woven basket. “I have thome delithiouth fruit juithe that I thqueezed mythelf.”
    “That would be nice,” said Jak.
    “Here, you can hold Lamia Norelle while I get your drink. I’ll be right back.”
    “What? I don’t know how to . . . Oh!” Jak exclaimed as she handed him the other bundle she was carrying, positioning it in his arms. He looked at the tiny head cradled against his chest and suddenly didn’t know what to say. A little human face gazed up at him with vivid blue eyes, her face framed in soft brown curls.
    Lamia Lynn chuckled as she left the room, Jak watching her with both surprise and dismay. When he glanced back down, the baby’s eyes were fixed on his face. Suddenly her tiny mouth puckered and her bright eyes clouded over as if she was about to cry. When the first sob shook her little body, Jak jiggled her and began to walk, saying, “Now, now, your mother will be right back.”
    The baby grew silent for a moment, but only because she was drawing a deeper breath. And then the wailing began and Jak really didn’t know what to do. He walked thelength of the room, jiggling her gently. When the wailing got louder, he walked faster and began crooning nonsense words, hoping to distract her.
    “Burp her,” said the baby’s mother as she set a glass of something pale green on the closest table.
    “I don’t know how,” Jak said, and handed the baby over. He watched as the lamia turned the baby to her shoulder and began to pat her back with forceful little thumps. The baby wiggled and the blanket that had been wrapped around her came loose, falling to the floor and freeing a long snake tail that had been wrapped up inside. Soon a loud burp emerged from the little girl, and both mother and child looked satisfied.
    Lamia Lynn glanced down at her shoulder and laughed. “You mutht feel better now! You thpit up all over uth both. Come along, my darling. We need to get cleaned up. I’ll be right back,” she said, turning to Jak. “Pleathe, make yourthelf comfortable.”
    Left by himself, Jak’s gaze wandered around the cavernous room that somehow had a cozy feel to it. The crystal jars dotted the walls in a flowing, swirling pattern, both lighting the room and decorating it. Long, low cushions covered with brightly colored fabric made of woven grass lined the floor by the walls, perfect for reclining lamias. Tables of various heights were set around the room, some holding quill pens and parchment, others supporting stacks of books, some of which looked familiar. He wondered if the lamias ever went through the gates to the human world.
    Jak yawned, worn out from a very long day. He took a seat by a table covered with books and picked up one at random. While thumbing through the book, his eyes closed and his head lolled back. Only a few minutes after sitting down, Jak was snoring.

    It seemed only moments later that Jak woke to a raccoon goblin shaking him so hard